The Penn's Grove record., 1887-02-26
THE BROKEN SASH.

The hands OF the little FRENCH LOCK
on the library mantel at Brookside
Grange pointed to three O'Clock; and
the pretty mistress of the Grange, Mrs.
George Gentry, who had been idly
drumming on the piano, arose, with a
sigh, and walked to the great window
overlooking the strip of lawn which
stretched away toward the public road.
Although midsummer, the tempera-
ture for the closed was very cool
and comfortable.
Mrs. Gentry leaned against the win
dow, resting her round face on the
palm of her shapely hand, and sighed
again.
For the first time in her married life,
she was entirely alone at the Grange.
Her husband did business in the city,
reaching home In time for a six O'Clock
dinner.
That morning, after breakfast, Mat
tie, the cook and maid-of-all-work, had
asked permission to visit her sister,
who lived about ten miles distant.
She promised to return before night,
and Michael, the hired man, who had
Just returned from the station, after
driving his employer to the train, left
his horse harnessed, for there was no
railroad communication with Elmwood,
and Mattle's request that he be al
lowed to drive her over and bring her
back had been granted.
BY nine O'Clock, Matte had finished
the morning household duties and was
dressed. ready for the journey.
"You are sure you won't be lonely
here all by yourself, Miss Lip" she
asked, pausing by the library door,
~radiantly gorgeous in her best apparel.
"Why should 1, you silly grip"
asked Mrs. Gentry, with a merry laugh.
am find enough to keep me busy
while you are away. what with the
birds, the flowers and my music. The
days are long now, and MIR. Gentry
will be home before dark, so you
needn't hurry back, for it's not often
that you have a holiday. When | hear
the train whistle at Glen Haven, I'll
walk down to the station and meet
him. And Matte" she continued, as
the girl was turning away, "be sure
and have Michael stop at Mr.. Pilsen's,
the carpenter, as you go through the
village. Ask him to come over to-day
and fix the large library window. The
weight-cords are broken"
This commission Matte promised
faithfully to execute, and when Mrs.
Gentry returned to her busting, she
heard the rattle of the carriage-wheels
IS they rolled away.
She felt a little lonely at first, but
the day was bright and beautiful, and
it was high noon before she knew it.
She ate a dainty lunch, and now,
after an hours practice at the piano, a
feeling of vague unreSt-why, she knew
notified her heart.
The afternoon shadows we're creeping
across the lawn, and the green sward
looked very inviting.
She was about to raise the sash to
look out, when she recollected that
Carpenter Pilsen had not yet fixed it,
So she went out through the hall.
AS she paused for a minute on the
piazza, to inhale the fragrance from the
honeysuckles which climbed over til e
porch, a small boy, whom she identified
as the son of the station-ageut, who
was also the telegraph operator, walked
slowly up the carriage-road.
AS he approached Mrs. Gentry
noticed that he had a paper in his hand,
and she walked hurriedly down to meet
him.
Something for me, Tommy" she
| asked, holding out her hand.
Eyes, ma'am," answered the young
ster, duckIng his head, and extending
his brown hand, in the fingers OF which
was clutched a telegram.
NJ naa%ru oafyaA fln Nonggaon nnI
tore open the envelope with feverish
Impotence.
1t was from her husband, and read
as follows:
DETAINED on business until mid
night. You will find package in safe
-valuable-must have it. Send
Michael-fye-forty train"
SIS there an answer, ma'amp" asked
Tommy Sloan.
ing, and then bidding Tommy await
her, hurried into the library and wrote
a message, explaining the true state o
affairs.
She folded the paper, and bidding
the urchin be careful and not lose 1t,
gave him a silver quarter for his trou,
Bile, and watched him as he skipped
down the carriage-road.
She did not notice the slouchlng zig
ure of a man who emerged from the
woods on the other side of the public
road, as Tommy came out of the
grounds, and, busy with her flowers,
failed to hear a stifled cry that broke
upon the drowsy afternoon quiet.
She tried to be contented and happy,
but she could not help thinking of the
package of bonds which her husband,
in the hurry OF his departure, had for
gotten.
When she finally re entered the
house, she took the key to the safe,
which lay on a shelf in her husbands
desk, and tucked it under a corner Of
the carpet.
Her nervousness wore off after
awhile; but when the sun sank to rest,
and the night shadows began to fall
the feeling returned again.
She fastened about the house, lock,
ing all the doors and barring all the
shutters. Then she returned to the
library, and lighting the study-lamp
selected a book and tried to read.
George will get my telegram, ant
return on the se%yen-thirty train" SHE
thought. HE'LL laugh at me for my
foolish fears, but / can't help it. WhaI